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{{Short description|English disc jockey and presenter}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=MayFebruary 20122021}}▼
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = Keith Fordyce
| image = Keith fordyce 465x310.jpg
| imagesize = 198px
| caption = Fordyce presenting a show for [[BBC Radio Devon]]
| birth_name = Keith Fordyce Marriott
| birth_date = 15 October{{birth date|1928|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]], [[UK]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|3|15|1928|10|15|df=y}}
| death_place = [[DevonPaignton]], [[EnglandDevon]], [[UK]]England
| occupation = Disc jockey, television presenter
| spouse = {{marriage|Anne Mercer|1954}}
| children = 4
}}
 
'''Keith Fordyce Marriott''' (15 October 1928 &ndash; 15 March 2011<ref name="Leigh">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/keith-fordyce-unflappable-host-of-lsquoready-steady-gorsquo-2255628.html#|title=Keith Fordyce: Unflappable host of ‘Ready Steady Go!’|work=The Independent |date=29 March 2011|accessdate=29 March 2011|location=London|first=Spencer|last=Leigh}}</ref>) was an English [[disc jockey]] and former presenter on British radio and television. He iswas most famous asboth the first presenter of the [[ITV's (TV network)|ITV]] television pop music programme ''Ready[[Thank SteadyYour Go!Lucky Stars (TV series)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]'' in 1963,<ref1961 name=Telegraph>{{citeand news|of url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culturethe youth-obituaries/8422224/Keith-Fordyce.htmlorientated |magazine location=Londonshow |''[[Ready work=TheSteady DailyGo!]]'' Telegraphon |[[Associated-Rediffusion]] title=Keithfrom Fordyce1963 |to date=1 April1965. 2011}}</ref> butFordyce was a stalwart of both [[BBC radioRadio]] and [[Radio Luxembourg]] for many years, being co-host of the BBC Light Programme's Sunday morning show ''[[Easy Beat (radio programme)|Easy Beat]]'' until 1967 and was the first presenter of BBC Radio 2's ''[[Sounds of the 60s]]'' series from 1983 to 1986.
 
==CareerEarly life==
Fordyce was born on 15 October 1928 in the St. Giles district of [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]], the son of [[HM Customs and Excise]] officer Frank Joseph Marriott and his wife, Catherine Mary ({{Nee|Armstrong}}).<ref name=ODNBEntry>{{cite ODNB|last=Leigh|first=Spencer|title=Fordyce, Keith [real name Keith Fordyce Marriott]|date=8 January 2015|id=103613}}</ref><ref name="LNatives">{{cite book |last=R. Ketteringham |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/lincolnshirenati0000unse/ |title=Lincolnshire Natives and Others |publisher=John R. Ketteringham |year=2002 |isbn=0-9512738-7-6 |volume=III |location=Lincolnshire, England |pages=52-54 |chapter=Fordyce, Keith (1928-) Broadcaster |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> He attended [[Lincoln Christ's Hospital School|Lincoln School]] (today the Lincoln Christ's Hospital School) from 1937 to 1947,<ref name="LNatives" /> and won the 1946 Lincolnshire Junior Lawn Tennis Championship.<ref name="ODNBEntry" /><ref name="LEchoAug1962">{{cite news |date=16 August 1962 |title=Keith Hits The High Spots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo-keith-hits-the-high-sp/155385222/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Lincolnshire Echo]] |page=6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Fordyce only competed in the competition once before he was ruled ineligible when he turned 18.<ref name="LNatives" />
Born Keith Fordyce Marriott in [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]], [[Lincolnshire]], he attended [[Lincoln Christ's Hospital School|Lincoln School]] and later studied law at [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]. In 1955 he came to the attention of British radio listeners as a staff announcer at [[Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg]] where he worked with [[Barry Alldis]].
 
Upon leaving school,<ref name="LEchoAug1955">{{cite news |date=16 August 1955 |title=Local Choice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo-local-choice-lincoln/155354313/ |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=[[Lincolnshire Echo]] |page=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> he joined the [[Air Training Corps]] when he was 15 and did his national service with the [[Volunteer Reserves (United Kingdom)|Volunteer Reserves]] with the [[Royal Air Force]] in Germany for two years.<ref name="LNatives" /><ref name="LEchoAug1962" /> Fordyce was seconded to the [[British Forces Broadcasting Service|British Forces Network]] (now BFBS) in Hamburg,<ref name="KeithVariety">{{cite news |date=2 June 1962 |title=Variety is the spice of Keith's life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-variety-is-the-spice-of-kei/155387595/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Bristol Evening Post]] |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="CommonwealthWhosWho">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoincommonw0000unse_2/ |title=Who's Who in the Commonwealth |publisher=[[International Biographical Centre]] |year=1982 |isbn=0-900332-70-0 |editor-last=Kay |editor-first=Ernest |edition=Second |location=Cambridge, England |page=180 |editor-last2=Doran |editor-first2=Joan |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> and he conducted sports commentary, continuity announcing, disc jockeying, producing and presenting.<ref name="LEchoAug1955" /><ref name="GuardianObit">{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |date=1 April 2011 |title=Keith Fordyce obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/apr/01/keith-fordyce-obituary |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |authorlink=Anthony Hayward}}</ref><ref name="GrimsbyET1970Profile">{{cite news |date=14 November 1970 |title=Keith has an eye for beauty |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-keith-has-an-e/155392433/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Grimsby Evening Telegraph]] |page=6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Fordyce later worked for the [[BBC]] [[Light Programme]] in the 1960s, with such programmes as the lunchtime ''Pop In'' show, and went on to host the television talent show ''[[Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]''<ref name = "GameShows">[http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Keith_Fordyce Keith Fordyce on The Game Show website including photo]</ref> On 9 August 1963 he presented the first edition of ''[[Ready Steady Go!]]'' on [[Associated Rediffusion]] television, being joined subsequently in 1964 by [[Cathy McGowan (presenter)|Cathy McGowan]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5214112.stm|title=TOTP joins the music TV graveyard|date=26 July 2006|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=25 March 2011}}</ref> and [[Michael Aldred]]. McGowan took over the show when Fordyce left in 1965.
 
After completing his national service, he read law at [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]] from 1949 to 1952,<ref name="CommonwealthWhosWho" /><ref name="TimesObit">{{cite news |date=1 April 2011 |title=Keith Fordyce |url=https://link-gale-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A252953978/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=f10cfe12 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=[[The Times]] |page=76 |via=Gale Academic OneFile}}</ref> graduating with a [[master's degree]].<ref name="LNatives" /> Fordyce served as the president of the [[Cambridge University Law Society]] from 1951 to 1952,<ref name="CommonwealthWhosWho" /> and founded and edited ''Light Blue'', the university's sport magazine.<ref name="ODNBEntry" /> After that, he worked as a personal management trainee at [[Sainsbury's]] while endeavouring to get a job in radio.<ref name="LNatives" /><ref name="GuardianObit" /> Fordyce also worked as a hedgecutter and a postman.<ref name="BEMMarch1956">{{cite news |date=20 March 1956 |title=Disc jockey gets a law degree |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-disc-jockey-gets/155354372/ |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
In 1967 he provided the commentary for the BBC's first colour test transmission on [[BBC 2]], the first men's singles final of the Open era at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]].<ref>Supplementary obituary note, ''The Times'', 2 April 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=From the Observer archive, 25 June 1967: Wimbledon's Watchmen|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2012/jun/24/archive-1967-wimbledon-dan-maskell|publisher=The Guardian (Observer)|date=24 June 2012}}</ref> He presented a game show for Westward Television called 'Treasure Hunt' (not to be confused with the later Channel 4 programme of the same name).
In the early 1980s, he rejoined Radio Luxembourg in the Grand Duchy after Barry Alldis's death, working in the Villa Louvigny again for six months, and regularly attracting audiences of 250,000 or more for his programmes.
 
== Career ==
On 12 February 1983 he was the first presenter of Radio 2's ''[[Sounds of the '60s]]''. He also hosted Radio 2's ''Beat The Record'' for many years. He later hosted a record programme on west of England local radio.<ref name= "GameShows"/> Prior to his retirement Fordyce worked for the BBC Regional service in [[Devon]], based at the Radio Devon studios, doing regular weekend shows.
From 1952 to 1955, Fordyce worked as a freelancer,<ref name="CommonwealthWhosWho" /> doing work for the BBC and ITV.<ref name="WhosWhoTV">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoontelevis0000unse |title=Who's Who on Television - A fully illustrated to 1000 best known faces on British Television |publisher=Independent Television Books |year=1982 |isbn=0-900727-96-9 |editor1-last=Curthoys |editor1-first=Alan |location=London, England |page=83 |editor2-last=Struthers |editor2-first=John |editor3-last=Doyle |editor3-first=John |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> In November 1952, he made his first television broadcast commentating on a football match between [[Leyton Orient F.C.]] and [[Hereford F.C.]] for [[BBC Television]].<ref name="Leigh">{{cite news |last=Leigh |first=Spencer |date=29 March 2011 |title=Keith Fordyce: Unflappable host of 'Ready Steady Go!' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/keith-fordyce-unflappable-host-of-lsquoready-steady-gorsquo-2255628.html# |accessdate=29 March 2011 |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London}}</ref> Fordyce became the youngest compere of the [[BBC Light Programme]] morning flagship programme ''[[Housewives' Choice]]'' for a week in August 1955.<ref name="LEchoAug1955" /><ref name="Leigh" /><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |date=1 April 2011 |title=Keith Fordyce |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/8422224/Keith-Fordyce.html |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> The same year saw him successfully contest a municipal election and he served as a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] councillor on Wimbledon Borough Council.<ref name="TimesObit" /><ref name="Leigh" />
 
Fordyce was offered the role of a staff announcer at [[Radio Luxembourg]] in 1955 and remained at the broadcaster as Head of its British Department for three years.<ref name="KeithVariety" /><ref name="GrimsbyET1970Profile" /><ref name="Leigh" /> He was the presenter of the station's weekly ''Top Twenty'' programme.<ref name="Leigh" /> Fordyce introduced the Power Play format to the United Kingdom in which he selected a new release that was featured for a whole week.<ref name="GuardianObit" /> He was also a journalist for [[NME|New Musical Express]] for three years,<ref name="Leigh" /> and returned to England in 1958.<ref name="LNatives" /> Fordyce was a member of the panel of the [[ABC Weekend TV|ABC]] television game show ''For Love or Money'' in 1959.<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="QuizChanges">{{cite news |date=18 July 1959 |title=Changes in 'Love or Money' Quiz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-changes-in-love/155386762/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |page=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was the compere of the short-lived ITV programme ''Wham!'' in 1960,<ref name="Leigh" /> and was selected to be the first presenter of the ITV television pop music programme ''[[Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]'' in 1961.<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="TimesObit" /><ref name="Telegraph" /> Fordyce made a cameo appearance as himself in the 1961 comedy film ''[[Dentist on the Job]]''.<ref name="ODNBEntry" /><ref name="GuardianObit" />
 
In 1962, he began presenting the local [[Westward Television]] game show ''Treasure Hunt'' for 14 series,<ref name="KeithVariety" /><ref name="TimesObit" /> and was referee of the weekly ITV pop music contest ''Needle Match'' that was held between American and British pop records.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 1962 |title=London ITV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald-needle-match-daily-herald/155458010/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=[[Daily Herald (United Kingdom)|Daily Herald]] |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 1962 |title=Inside View of Hollywood Provides Play's Setting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph-inside-view/155457996/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=[[Coventry Evening Telegraph]] |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Fordyce joined the BBC Light Programme in the early 1960s and was the presenter of the lunchtime programme ''Pop Inn''.<ref name="TimesObit" /> In August 1963 he presented the first edition of the Friday night live hour-long youth-orientated pop music magazine ''[[Ready Steady Go!]]'' on [[Associated-Rediffusion]] television, being joined subsequently in 1964 by [[Cathy McGowan (presenter)|Cathy McGowan]] and [[Michael Aldred]].<ref name="Leigh" /><ref name="Telegraph" /> McGowan took over the show when Fordyce left in April 1965.<ref name="TimesObit" /><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1965 |title=Keith Fordyce to Leave TV "Beat" Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-keith-fordyce-to-lea/155388423/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |page=19 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1964, Fordyce presented ''Search for a Star'', a ITV series that sought to discover a new female television personality.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 1964 |title=Today's Television |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard-search-for-a-star-14/155391708/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Evening Standard]] |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 September 1964 |title=TTT Sunday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-chronicle-search-for-a-star-26/155391716/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Evening Chronicle]] |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was co-presenter of the ITV quiz show ''Groucho'' with [[Groucho Marx]] in 1965, and acted as Marx's interpreter of British customs and sayings.<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 June 1965 |title=Groucho's Series |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo-we-cover-the-world-live/155389091/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Liverpool Echo|The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express]] |page=2}}</ref>
 
He joined fellow disc jockey [[Annie Nightingale]] as the host of the request programme ''That's for Me''. Fordyce was also the presenter of the BBC Sunday morning radio programme ''[[Easy Beat (radio programme)|Easy Beat]]'' until it was axed when [[BBC Radio 1]] was launched in 1967.<ref name="TimesObit" /> In the following year, he presented the BBC darts-based quiz show ''Quiz Time, Gentlemen, Please!''<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 December 1967 |title=Quiz time in the pubs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror-quiz-time-in-the-pubs-dai/155389712/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Other work for Fordyce included presented the inter-regional dancing contest ''[[Come Dancing]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 April 1960 |title=Midland dancers are runners-up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-midland-dancers-are-ru/155389632/ |work=[[Derby Evening Telegraph]] |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> ''Open House'',<ref name="GrimsbyET1970Profile" /> various award shows, New Year's Eve parties and the [[Miss World 1970]] contest with [[Bob Hope]].<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="TimesObit" /> In 1967 he provided the commentary for the BBC's first colour test transmission on [[BBC Two|BBC2]], the first men's singles final of the Open era at [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Michael |date=2 April 2011 |title=Keith Fordyce |url=https://link-gale-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A253061944/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=e945f768 |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[The Times]] |page=106 |via=Gale Academic OneFile}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 June 2012 |title=From the Observer archive, 25 June 1967: Wimbledon's Watchmen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2012/jun/24/archive-1967-wimbledon-dan-maskell |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=[[The Observer]]}}</ref> He was the host of ''Late Night Extra'' on [[BBC Radio 2]] between 1969 and 1974,<ref name="Telegraph" /> and eight series of the quiz show ''Town and Country Quiz'' on the same radio station.<ref name="LNatives" /><ref name="TimesObit" /> Fordyce was co-presenter of the [[Thames Television]] self-sufficiency programme ''Kitchen Garden'' with [[Claire Rayner]] for four series from 1976 to 1979.<ref name="GuardianObit" />
 
Between 1976 and 1978, he was the host of the radio quiz show ''Support Your Local'' that was held between [[BBC Local Radio]] stations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 1976 |title=Radio Highspots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror-support-your-local-daily/155391983/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |page=19 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 November 1978 |title=Radio Highspots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror-support-your-local-daily/155391992/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |page=18 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> For nine years beginning in 1979, he hosted the Saturday morning BBC Radio 2 quiz programme ''Beat the Record'' in which listeners had to identify pieces of light music.<ref name="LNatives" /><ref name="TimesObit" /> Fordyce briefly returned to Radio Luxembourg in 1983, and presented shows on the commercial radio station [[DevonAir]], being a founding board member of the station.<ref name="ODNBEntry" /><ref name="GuardianObit" /> He was the first presenter of the Saturday morning BBC Radio 2 series ''[[Sounds of the 60s]]'' from 1983 to 1986.<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="TimesObit" /> Prior to his retirement that was brought on by [[Alzheimer's disease]] Fordyce presented regular weekend shows on [[BBC Radio Devon]] and [[BBC Radio Solent]],<ref name="Leigh" /> and started broadcasting on the golden oldie radio station Brunel Classic Gold in Bristol in January 1994 and remained there for ten months.<ref name="LNatives" /><ref name="ReadySteadyGold">{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Tim |date=24 January 1994 |title=Ready Steady Gold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-ready-steady-gold-bristol/155386581/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Bristol Evening Post]] |page=31 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
Fordyce retiredmarried the microbiologist Anne Mercer at the St Mary the Virgin Church in Devon[[Merton, withLondon his(parish)|Merton, wifeSurrey]] Anneon 6 February 1954. HeThey had four children.<ref name="ODNBEntry" /> Fordyce founded the self-supporting Torbay Aircraft Museum near [[Paignton]] in theDevon 1970sin 1971 and was its curator until its closure in 1988.<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="Telegraph" /> He supported the Liberal Party and spoke in support of [[David Penhaligon]] at a 1970s election meeting in [[Truro]]. He died onof 15pneumonia Marchat 2011the agedBelle 82Vue afterHouse sufferingNursing fromHome in [[pneumoniaPaignton]] and, [[Alzheimer's diseaseDevon]] on 15 March 2011.<ref name="LeighODNBEntry"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/27/ready-steady-go-presenter-keith-fordyce-dies-115875-23018689|title=Ready Steady Go! presenter Keith Fordyce dies |work=Daily Mirror |date=27 March 2011|accessdate=27 March 2011}}</ref>
 
==References==
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==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0286000}}
 
▲{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}
 
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:British radio personalities]]
[[Category:British radio DJs]]
[[Category:BritishEnglish television presenters]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer'spneumonia diseasein England]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in England]]
[[Category:People from Lincoln, England]]
[[Category:Radio Luxembourg (English) presenters]]
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